Solar Impulse plane makes historic Hawaii landing

The Solar Impulse aeroplane made a historic landing in Hawaii on 3 July, following a record-breaking 8,000km journey across the Pacific, powered only by the sun's energy.

Pilot Andre Borschberg landed the plane at Kalaeloa Airport just before 06:00 local time (5pm BST), having spent 118 hours in the air.

The flight set a world record for the longest manned solar-powered flight.

It broke the world record for the longest solo, un-refulled flight on 2 July when it shattered the previous record of 76 hours during the ocean crossing.

Piloted by Swiss explorers Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, who take turns flying the craft, Solar Impulse took off on its 22,000-mile (35,000-km) journey around the world from Abu Dhabi on 9 March.

Borschberg told the BBC he didn't feel particularly tired following the record-breaking journey, joking that he would even have energy to try out a bit of surfing.

"I am also astonished," he said. "We got so much support during the flight from so many people; it gave me so much energy."

"We have some work to do, and to meet people. Because I am sure a lot of people will want to see the aeroplane and discuss its technologies, but there is no way we shouldn't try some surfing," he said.

Referring to the mission's aim of highlighting renewable energy and clean technologies, Piccard - who will fly the next leg from Hawaii to Phoenix, Arizona - told reporters at the Hawaiian airport: "Andre's flight was longer than all the other single-seater flights that had fuel. That's an incredible message.

"Now you can fly longer with no fuel than you can with fuel. So, what Andre has done is not only a historic first for aviation, it's a historic first for renewable energies. And this is why we are doing this project."